Monday's letters: A stern rebuke’

Published: Monday, September 2, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 30, 2013 at 7:42 p.m.

To the editor: A recent Times-News headline read, “Funeral director disciplined.” Give us a break. In the early days of America, people found guilty of stealing a cow or horse were hanged. Now they are only “disciplined” for stealing a person!

Within the next 10 years, I expect that murder will be downgraded to a misdemeanor. But it won’t matter. The District Attorney’s Office will take a plea bargain, and the person will be ultimately charged with nothing more than singing too loud in church!

And by then “federal sentencing guidelines” will only call for a “stern rebuke.”

The inmates are running the asylum, folks.

Joe Stanley Sr.

Saluda

Purely political

To the editor: Having been an educator for more than 30 years, it is troubling that many teacher assistant positions have been cut. Teacher assistants provide a valuable and important contribution to every class.

But even more troubling than the loss of these positions are the purely political protests directed at the current administration in Raleigh. Hypocritical charges are hurled against those responsible for our fragile fiscal stability.

We did not arrive here in the last several months. During the heyday of Democratic rule in Raleigh, there were years (1982, ’91, 2003, ’09, ’10 and ’11) where no increases were given to teachers. There were no protests against Govs. Jim Hunt, Mike Easley and Beverly Perdue and the Democrat-controlled legislature, and the teachers union, the N.C. Association of Educators, was strangely silent. During the time from 1991 until this year, North Carolina has slipped from 34th to 45th nationally in the amount spent on each student.

I believe you would agree that it is incumbent upon us as teachers to provide our children with excellent role models. Therefore, I would urge all those who wish to protest, as guaranteed by our Constitution, to at least do your homework on these vital matters regardless of party affiliation.

Ken Rash

Hendersonville

Our teachers

To the editor: Although Henderson County teachers have accomplished a creditable job in providing quality education to our own youths while working under one of the lowest pay scales in the country, it makes me wonder which planet Mr. Jack Lorenz lives on when he states that qualified teachers with master’s degrees will flock to a system where state legislators have reduced the incentive pay for those with advanced degrees. Actually, this very low pay scale sends many of our fine young teachers to other states where educators’ pay is much higher.

While our local system enjoys many outstanding achievements with help from the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, it is apparent our state legislators have let us down with their votes to denigrate the teaching profession, thereby harming our public school system as a whole.

I applaud all teachers for their dedication to their students and their ongoing community involvement after retirement. Our education system deserves the best possible support; therefore I urge all concerned citizens to voice their disappointment with the poor legislative actions in recent times.

Virginia Gambill

Laurel Park

Spoke volumes

To the editor: Want to know one of the reasons America is on a downhill slide? Look no further than Congressman Mark Meadows. His remarks at the Chariot Restaurant recently, speaking to his “conservative” choir, were laughable and disgusting. He continues to tell us what he intends to dismantle. What does he intend to build up?

Obamacare is the law of the land. For Meadows to say “the free market can always do it more effectively than the government can” says volumes of whose side he is on in the debate. I am sure Blue Cross, Aetna, Humana and the rest love to hear him talk.

Wait until you pay $1,100 a month for yourself and your wife for “free market” medical, and that is with good health. You will change your tune.

In the past, Bill Hendon, Charles Taylor, Jamie Clark, Heath Shuler and Roy Taylor got things done. All Meadows and his cronies want to do is obstruct and tear things down. How much longer are we going to elect such people? This is insanity.

This country needs to get moving before it becomes second rate. The dead wood needs to be sent packing.

<p>To the editor: A recent Times-News headline read, Funeral director disciplined. Give us a break. In the early days of America, people found guilty of stealing a cow or horse were hanged. Now they are only disciplined for stealing a person!</p><p>Within the next 10 years, I expect that murder will be downgraded to a misdemeanor. But it won’t matter. The District Attorney’s Office will take a plea bargain, and the person will be ultimately charged with nothing more than singing too loud in church!</p><p>And by then federal sentencing guidelines will only call for a stern rebuke.</p><p>The inmates are running the asylum, folks.</p><p><em>Joe Stanley Sr.</em></p><p><em>Saluda</em></p><h3>Purely political</h3>
<p>To the editor: Having been an educator for more than 30 years, it is troubling that many teacher assistant positions have been cut. Teacher assistants provide a valuable and important contribution to every class.</p><p>But even more troubling than the loss of these positions are the purely political protests directed at the current administration in Raleigh. Hypocritical charges are hurled against those responsible for our fragile fiscal stability.</p><p>We did not arrive here in the last several months. During the heyday of Democratic rule in Raleigh, there were years (1982, ’91, 2003, ’09, ’10 and ’11) where no increases were given to teachers. There were no protests against Govs. Jim Hunt, Mike Easley and Beverly Perdue and the Democrat-controlled legislature, and the teachers union, the N.C. Association of Educators, was strangely silent. During the time from 1991 until this year, North Carolina has slipped from 34th to 45th nationally in the amount spent on each student.</p><p>I believe you would agree that it is incumbent upon us as teachers to provide our children with excellent role models. Therefore, I would urge all those who wish to protest, as guaranteed by our Constitution, to at least do your homework on these vital matters regardless of party affiliation.</p><p><em>Ken Rash</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Our teachers</h3>
<p>To the editor: Although Henderson County teachers have accomplished a creditable job in providing quality education to our own youths while working under one of the lowest pay scales in the country, it makes me wonder which planet Mr. Jack Lorenz lives on when he states that qualified teachers with master’s degrees will flock to a system where state legislators have reduced the incentive pay for those with advanced degrees. Actually, this very low pay scale sends many of our fine young teachers to other states where educators’ pay is much higher.</p><p>While our local system enjoys many outstanding achievements with help from the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, it is apparent our state legislators have let us down with their votes to denigrate the teaching profession, thereby harming our public school system as a whole.</p><p>I applaud all teachers for their dedication to their students and their ongoing community involvement after retirement. Our education system deserves the best possible support; therefore I urge all concerned citizens to voice their disappointment with the poor legislative actions in recent times.</p><p><em>Virginia Gambill</em></p><p><em>Laurel Park</em></p><h3>Spoke volumes</h3>
<p>To the editor: Want to know one of the reasons America is on a downhill slide? Look no further than Congressman Mark Meadows. His remarks at the Chariot Restaurant recently, speaking to his conservative choir, were laughable and disgusting. He continues to tell us what he intends to dismantle. What does he intend to build up?</p><p>Obamacare is the law of the land. For Meadows to say the free market can always do it more effectively than the government can says volumes of whose side he is on in the debate. I am sure Blue Cross, Aetna, Humana and the rest love to hear him talk.</p><p>Wait until you pay $1,100 a month for yourself and your wife for free market medical, and that is with good health. You will change your tune.</p><p>In the past, Bill Hendon, Charles Taylor, Jamie Clark, Heath Shuler and Roy Taylor got things done. All Meadows and his cronies want to do is obstruct and tear things down. How much longer are we going to elect such people? This is insanity.</p><p>This country needs to get moving before it becomes second rate. The dead wood needs to be sent packing.</p><p><em>Gerry Huntley</em></p><p><em>Fairview</em></p>